Railway switch operating apparatus



RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Filed April 15, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Herbert L.B012e.

BY 4mm.

HIS A TTORNEY June 1, 1937.

H. L. BONE RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Filed April 13, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Herbert L 30120.

H16 ATTORNEY .Pune 1, 1937. BQNE 2,032,142

RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Filed April 13, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR [a Alenbem L .8000.

HIS A TTORNEY June 1, 1937. BONE 2,082,142

I RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Filed April 13, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR .Herbert L .30129.

BY 31W HIS A TTORNEY June 1, 1937. H L. BONE 2,082,142

RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Filed April 13, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR Herbert L B0126 Hi6 ATTORNEY Patented June 1, 1937 RAILWAY swi'rcn OPERATING APPARATUS Herbert L. Bone, Swissvale, Pa.',.assi'gnor to The Union Switch & Signal Company, Swissvale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application April 13, 1933, Serial No. 665,91dv

48 Claims.

1. Myinvention relates to railway switch operating apparatus, and particularly to apparatus of the type involving a longitudinally movable slide bar coacting with elements for causing operation of a railway switch.

One feature of myinvention is the provision of a novel and improved friction lock device for preventing creeping of the slide bar from either of its extreme positions. l I Another feature of my invention is the provision of a novel and. improved circuit controller for detecting any failureof the switch points to occupy their proper positions relative to the fixed rails in either extreme position of the switch.

A further feature of my invention is the provision of a novel and improved latching device which may be incorporated into the circuit controller when desired, and which when utilized, provides means whereby, if the indication contacts of the circuit controller are improperly forced open, as by a train trailing the switch,

when the switch points are locked in either of their extreme positions, these contacts will be positively held open by-the latching device until the latching device is manually operated to release the contacts.

I will describe several forms of apparatus embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig.1 is a top plan view showing a railway switch A actuated by one form of switch operating mechanism B embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, with the top plate i8 and circuit controller C removed to better illustrate the construction. Fig. 3 is a front view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the circuit controller C forming part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, the cover being removed to better illustrate the construction of the circuit controller.

Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views taken substantially on the lines VV and VIVI, respectively, of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a view, partly in plan, and partly in section of the contact drum 3.! forming part of the circuit controller C illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the contact drum being rotated to the position in which all of the contact members secured thereto are exposed to view. Fig. 8 is a front eievational view of the pin Gil which connects the crank arm 62. of the circuit controller C with the rack bar 51*. Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional View taken on the line IX-IX of Fig. 2, and Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on the line X- X of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom View of the crank arm 64 forming part of the circuit controller shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. Fig. 12 is an enlarged top plan View of the bolt 66 for fastening the roller of the circuit controller C to the crank arm 64 Figs. 13 and 14 are top plan and side views, respectively, of a latch head I03 forming part of the latching mechanism associated with the circuit controller C, and also embodying my invention. Fig. 15 is a top plan view with cover removed of the circuit controller C showing the parts in the positions which they occupy when it is desired to have the point adjacent the switch movement in a left-hand layout normally open instead of normally closed, as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 16 is a fragmentary top plan view showing a switch operating mechanism B applied to a righthand switch layout. Fig. 17 is a top plan view showing a movable point frog A operated by a switch operating mechanism B embodying my invention. Fig. 18 is a side view of the switch op erating mechanism shown in Fig. 1'? with some of the parts removed to better illustrate the construction. Fig. 19 is a top plan view of a circuit controller C forming part of the mechanism B and also embodying my invention, a portion of the cover for this circuit controller being removed to better illustrate the construction. Fig. 20 is a sectional view taken on the line XX-XX of Fig. 19.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the reference character A designates a railway switch comprising as usual two fixed rails l and l and two movable switch points 2 and 2 The fixed rails i and l are laid on tie plates 3 and are secured to crossties 4 in the usual manner. Ihe switch points 2 and 2 are connected together by a front rod 5, a head rod 6, and a tie rod 5, and may be moved into a normal or reverse position by means of av switch operating mechanism B which is connected with the head rod 6 through the medium of an operating rod 1 and the usual switch basket 8. When the switch occupies its normal position, in which position it is shown in Fig. l, the switch point 2 engages the fixed rail l, and the switch point 2 is spaced a predetermined distance from the fixed rail I. When the switch is reversed, however, the switch point 2 then engages the fixed rail I and the switch point 2 is spaced from the fixed rail l.

The switch operating mechanism B is mounted on a bed plate 9 which is secured to the ties 4 adjacent the outer side of the rail I, and in the form here shown, this mechanism comprises a base plate I (see Figs. 2 and 3), bolted to the bed plate 9, and carrying a longitudinally movable slide bar II which is guided between rollers journalled on studs which project upwardly from the base plate. The slide bar I I is adapted to be reciprocated between two extreme positions, and for this purpose the slide bar is operatively connected with the piston rod I 2 of a fluid pressure motor I3 which is bolted to the base plate ID. As shown in the drawings, the slide bar is connected with the piston rod I2 at the left-hand end of the slide bar, but it should be pointed out that in actual practice the slide bar will usually be so constructed and the parts will be so arranged that the slide bar can be connected with the piston rod of the motor I3 at whichever end of the slide bar proves to be the most convenient for any particular installation, and the bed plate 9 will usually be drilled in such manner that the motor can be bolted to the bed plate at either end of the slide bar.

As best seen in Fig. 3, the slide bar II consists of an upper bar II and a lower bar II riveted together in superposed parallel spaced relation. A roller I5 is rotatably mounted between the bars II and II and this roller coacts with an alligator jaw I6 which is journalled at its lower end in the base plate I0 and at its upper end in a top plate I8. The top plate I8 is bolted to the base plate In in parallel spaced relation and serves to prevent vertical displacement of the slide bar II between its roller guides. The alligator jaw I6 is operatively connected with the previously described operating rod 1 in the usual and well known manner.

In addition to carrying the roller I5, the slide bar II carries two locking dogs I9 and which are attached to the upper and lower bars I I and II respectively, and which cooperate with suitable notches I9 and 20 respectively, formed in an adjustable lock rod L. The lock rod L is of the usual and well-known construction, and is connected to the front rod 5 of the switch A in the usual manner. The parts which have thus far been described are in widespread use, and their operation is well understood, so that for purposes of the present disclosure, it is believed that the following brief description of the operation of these parts will be sufficient.

When the slide bar I I occupies its extreme normal position, in which position it is shown in the drawings, the switch points are held in their normal positions by engagement of the roller I5 with the right-hand side of the alligator jaw I5, and under these conditions, the locking dog I9 enters the notch I9 in the lock rod L and locks the switch points in their normal positions. When, however, the slide bar is moved from its extreme normal position to its extreme reverse position, the first part of the movement of the slide bar withdraws the locking dog I9 from the notch IS! in the lock rod L to unlock the switch, the intermediate part of the movement of the slide bar causes the switch points to be moved to the extreme position opposite to that in which they are shown in Fig. 1, and the final part of the movement of the slide bar moves the locking dog 20 into engagement with the notch 2I'I in the lock rod L to lock the switch points in their reverse positions. The operation of the apparatus when the slide bar is subsequently restored to its extreme normal position is exactly the reverse of that just described and will be obvious from an inspection of the drawings.

It has been found that under some conditions there is a tendency for the slide bar II to creep away from the extreme position which it occupies when the switch operating mechanism is at rest, this tendency probably being due to vibration caused by passing trains. When such creepage occurs, it is manifest by the fact that the signals which govern trafiic over the switch cannot be cleared because of the control of these signals by an indication circuit controller C which is controlled in part by the slide bar, and which I will describe in detail hereinafter. It is ob vious, therefore, that this creepage of the slide bar is undesirable, and one of the objects of my invention is to provide a friction lock which prevents this creepage, my friction lock being an improvement over that shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,732,957, granted to Charles Thorn and Willi-am C. McWhirter, on October 22, 1929, for Railway switch operating mechanism.

Referring now again to Figs. 2 and 3, my improved friction lock is disposed on the side of the slide bar II opposite to the alligator jaws I6 and in transverse alignment with the alligator jaw, and in the form here shown, this lock comprises a curved dog 2| secured intermediate its ends to a pin 22 which is journalled in the base plate I0 and top plate I8, and a curved dog 23 which is mounted to rotate at one end on the pin 22, the dog 23 being provided with bifurcations which straddle the right-hand end of the dog 2|, as shown in Fig. 3. Formed on the inner side of the dog 23 directly opposite, and in alignment with, a tapped hole 24 which is provided in the right-hand end of the dog 2I is a socket 25; and interposed between the socket 25 and an adjustable plug 26 which is screwed into the outer end of the hole 24, is a compressed coil spring 21 which biases the dogs 2I and 23 to the positions in which the inner ends of these dogs extend part way into the path of movement of the roller I5, the dogs being stopped in the desired positions by means of stop pins 28 extending upwardly from the base plate In. The parts are so proportioned that when the slide bar II is in its extreme normal position in which it is shown in the drawings, the end surface 23 of the. dog 23 will be very close to the lower left-hand side of the roller I5, as viewed in Fig. 2, and that, when the slide bar occupies its opposite or reverse extreme position, the end surface 2| of the dog 2I will be located very close to the lower righthand side of the roller I5. Furthermore, the end surface of both of these dogs is disposed at an acute angle to the path of movement of the roller I5, as will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 2. It will be seen, therefore, that when the slide bar II occupies its extreme normal position, it cannot move out of this position unless sufiicient force is exerted on it to force dog 23 back against the. opposing force of spring 21 a suflicient amount to permit roller I5 to clear the end surface 23 of dog 23, and that, when the slide bar II occupies its extreme reverse position, it cannot move out of this position unless sufficient force is exerted on it to cause dog 2I to be forced back against the opposing force of spring 21 a sufficient distance to permit roller I5 to clear the end surface 2| of the dog 2|. The amount of compression of spring 21 will usually be so adjusted that the force required to move the dogs out of the path of .movement of. the roller will be greater than any force tending .to cause the slide bar to creep, but will not be enough tointerfere with the movement of the slide bar by the motor.. In this connection, it should be pointed out that the necessary operation of the friction look by the motor takes place during the unlocking and locking portions of the stroke of the slide bar, and the load on the motor at this time is much less than it is during that portion of the stroke of the slide bar in which the reversal of the switch points occurs, so that the force available to operate the lock is more than ample. Furthermore, when the slide bar is being moved to an extreme or locking position after reversal of the switch points, the roller l5 then cooperates with a side surface 2| on the dog 2!, or a side surface 23 on the dog 23 asthe. case may be, and not with the end surface of these dogs; and theside surfaces 2| and 23 are disposed at such angles with respect to the path of movement of the roller that the force which the slide bar must exert when the roller is engaging one of these surfaces, in order to move the associated dog out of the path of movement of the roller, is considerably less than that required to move such dog out of the path of movement of the roller when the slide bar is being moved away from an extreme position.

The indication circuit controller C referred to hereinbefore is supported and enclosed in a suitable casing 29 (see Figs. 4, 5 and 6) which is bolted to the right-hand end of the base plate 10, the parts being so constructed and so designed that this circuit controller can be readily removed as a unit from the portion of the switch operating mechanism described hereinbefore without in any way disturbing this portion of the mechanism, as will be apparent from an inspection of Figs. 2 and 4. The interior of the casing 29 is divided by means of a partition 32 into two compartments 33 and 35, both of which compartments are closed at their upper ends by a single removable cover 30. The compartment 33 is relatively shallow and is provided with a bottom wall 35 which is disposed wholly above the slide bar II. The compartment 34, however, is relatively deep and communicates at its lower end with a recess 3| formed in the top of the base plate In. Extending into the. compartment 33 are two tubular openings 36 through which electrical conductors may be brought into this compartment.

A frame 38 is secured to the bottom wall 35 of the left-hand compartment 33, and journalled end to end in suitable bearings formed in this frame are two contact drums 39 and 39 Mounted on an insulating portion of the contact drum 39 are five contact members 40 M 42 43 and M (see Fig. 7) which cooperate, in. a manner to be described hereinafter, with a plurality of fixed contact fingers 45 46 41 48 49 and 50, and mounted on an. insulating portion of the contact drum 39* are five contact members 48 M 42", 43 and M which cooperate with a plurality of fixed contact fingers 45 46 41 48 49 and 50 in. the same manner that the contact members 40 ll 42 43 and 44 cooperate with the fixed contact fingers 45 46 41 48 49 and 50 The contact fingers 45 46 41 45 46 and 41 are each fastened to a molded insulating member 5| which is bolted to the frame 38 on the left-hand side of the two contactdrums ,39 and 39 as viewed in Fig. 4, while the fingers 48 49 50 48*, 49 and 50 are each fastened to a molded insulating member 52 similar to the molded insulating member 5|, the insulating member 52 being bolted to the frame 38 on the right-hand side of the contact drums 39 and 3%, as viewed in Fig. 4. A block 53 of electrical conducting material (see Fig. 5) is clamped against the upper side of the lower end of each contact finger by means of the same screw which fastens such finger to the associated insulating member, and each contact block 53 is provided with an integral raised portion 53 having a threaded hole which receives a terminal screw 55, thus providing a convenient means for connecting electrical conductors with the contact fingers.

The contact drums 39 and 33 are each adapted to be rotated between an intermediate and two extreme positions in a manner which I will describe hereinafter, and as shown in the drawings, the contact drum 3!! is rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed from the bottom in Fig. 4, to its normal extreme position, while the contact drum 39 is. rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed from the bottom in Fig. 4 to its normal extreme position. The parts are so proportioned that when the contact drums occupy their normal extreme positions, the contact member 46* will engage the fixed contact fingers 45 and 48 to close a contact 45 40 -48 and the contact member H will engage the fixed contact fingers 46 and 49 to close a contact 43 -4| 49, while the contact member 42* will engage the fixed contact fingers 41 and 50 to close a contact 4'l'---42 ---50 and the contact member will engage the contact fingers 48 and 49 to close a contact 48 44 49 If, now, the contact drum 39 is rotated in a counter clockwise direction, as viewed from the bottom in Fig. 4, from its normal extreme position to its intermediate position, and the contact drum 39 is simultaneously rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed from the bottom in Fig. 4, from its normal extreme position to its intermediate position, contact member 42 will first move into engagement with contact finger 41 to complete a contact 4l 42 -50 then the contact members 40 and M will simultaneously move out of engagement with the contact fingers 48 and 49, respectively, to open the contacts H -M -M and 46 -4l 49 then contact member 44 will move out of engagement with the contact fingers 48 and 49 to open the contact M -44 43 and finally, the contact members 43 and 43 will simultaneously move into engagement with the contact fingers 48 49 and 48 49*, respectively, to close contacts 45 l3 49 and 1i8 --43"4 9 Furthermore, if the contact drums 39 and 39 are simultaneously rotated in opposite directions from their intermediate positions to what I shall term their reverse extreme positions, contact members 43 and 43* will first simultaneously move out of engagement with the contact fingers 48 49 and 48 49 respectively, to open the contacts 48 l3 --49 and 48 43 49 then contact members 40 and M will simultaneously move into engagement with the fingers 48 and 49 respectively, to close contacts 45 -40 48 and 46 -4| -'49 then contact member H will move into engagement with contact fingers 48 and 49 to close a contact 48 44 49, and finally contact member 42 will move out of engagement with contact finger 41 to open contact 41 -42 -50 During simultaneous rotation of the contact drums in opposite directions from their reverse extreme positions to their intermediate extreme positions, and from their intermediate extreme positions to their normal extreme positions, the operation of the various contacts will be exactly the reverse of that just described, and will therefore be readily understood from the foregoing and from an inspection oi the drawings without further description.

A gear wheel 55 is secured to one end of the contact drum 39, and this gear wheel meshes with rack teeth 56" cut in one end of a rack bar 51*. A gear wheel 55 similar to the gear wheel 55, is likewise secured to one end of the contact drum 3!)", and this latter gear wheel meshes with rack teeth 56 cut in one end of a rack bar 51'. The two rack bars 5'! and 51* are slidably mounted side by side in the compartment 33 for reciprocation between two extreme positions, and the ends of these rack bars opposite to those in which the rack teeth are cut extend through the partition 32 into the compartment 34, and are provided within the compartment 34 with flattened offset portions 58 and 58*, respectively, the offset portion 58 being disposed above the plane of the associated rack bar 5'! and the offset portion 58* being disposed below the plane of the associated rack bar 51 as shown in Fig. 6, so that a considerable amount of clearance is provided between the rack bars at the offset portions. A transverse slot 59 is cut in the offset portion 58*, and a similar slot 59 is cut in the offset portion 58 the two slots being so disposed that their open ends face in opposite directions. The slot 59 cooperates with a pin (ill which is mounted at its ends in bifurcations 6| (see Fig. 6) formed on one end of a crank arm 62, and the slot 59 likewise cooperates with a pin 60' which is mounted at its ends in bifurcations Bi formed on one end of a crank arm 62. The pins ED and 60 are similar, and as best seen in Figs. 4 and 8, the pin 60 is made round at its ends to permit it to rotate freely in the bifurcations fil but the portion of this pin which cooperates with the slot 59 in the offset portion 58 is made flat on two sides to provide a sliding fit with the slot 59*. The end of the arm I52 opposite to that in which the pin 6!) is mounted is secured to the upper end of a vertical rockshaft I53 (see Fig. 6), which rock shaft is journalled in the compartment 34 on one side of the slide bar II; and the end of the arm 62 opposite to that in which the pin 60 is mounted is secured to the upper end of a vertical rockshaft 63 which is journalled in the compartment 34 on the side of the slide bar ll opposite to that on which the rockshaft 63 is journalled. It will be apparent, therefore, from the foregoing description and from an inspection of the drawings, that rotation of the rockshafts 63 and 63 will cause longitudinal movement of the rack bars 51 and 51 which, in turn, will cause rotation of the contact drums 39 and 39 The two rockshafts 63 and 63 are operatively connected with the slide bar II, to be oscillated thereby, in the following manner. Formed integral with the rockshaft 63 directly below the arm 62" is a crank arm 64, and formed integral with the rockshaft 63* directly below the crank arm 62' is a crank arm 64 The crank arms G l and 64 are of relatively wide web-like construction and each extends substantially parallel to the slide bar H. A roller 65 is attached, by means of a bolt 66 and a nut 61, to the crank arm 64*, and a roller 65 similar to the roller 65, is likewise attached, by means of a bolt 66 and aunt 61 to the crank arm 64*. The roller I55 cooperates with two recesses a and a (see Fig. 2) formed in one side edge of a motion plate 68 which is carried on top of, and driven by the slide bar II, and the roller 65 similarly cooperates with two recesses b and b formed in the side of the motion plate 68 opposite to that in which the recesses a and a are formed. A spring 69 is stretched between two upstanding pins HF and 10 provided on the arms 6-1 and 64 respectively, and this spring constantly biases the rockshafts to such positions that the rollers 65 and 65 will enter the associated recesses in the motion plate whenever these recesses are in alignment with the rollers, unless the rollers are prevented from doing so by point detector mechanism which I will describe hereinafter.

The recess a in the motion plate 68 is relatively short and is so disposed that this recess will align with the roller 65 when and only when the slide bar H occupies its extreme normal position in which it is shown in the drawings. The recess a joins the right-hand end of the recess (L as viewed in Fig. 2, and is of such length that this latter recess will align with the roller 65 when the slide bar ll occupies any position except its extreme normal or its extreme reverse position. The recess a is approximately twice as deep as the recess a and it will be apparent, therefore, that when the roller 65 enters the recess a the rockshaft 63 will be rotated, in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, to one extreme position; that when the roller I55 is forced out of both recesses a and a the rockshaft B3 will be rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, to another extreme position; and that when the roller B5 enters the recess 0. the rockshaft 63 will be rotated to an intermediate position approximately midway between its two extreme positions. The recess b is similar to the recess but is so disposed that this recess will align with the roller 65 when and only when the slide bar I I occupies its extreme reverse position. The recess b is likewise similar to the recess a and is so disposed that this recess will align with the roller [i when the slide bar occupies any position intermediate its two extreme positions. It follows that the rockshaft 63 will be rotated to one extreme position when the roller 65 enters the recess 22 to another extreme position when the roller 65 is forced out of both recesses, and to an intermediate position approximately midway between its two extreme positions when the roller 55* enters the recess b The recesses a (1 b and o in addition to being proportioned and disposed in the manner above described, are so designed that any rotation of the rockshafts 63 and 63 due to engagement of the rollers 65 and 65' with these recesses will be equal and opposite.

As was pointed out hereinbefore, rotation of the rockshafts 83 and 63 causes corresponding rotation of the contact drums 39 and 39' and the parts are so proportioned that each of these contact drums will be rotated to its normal extreme position, its intermediate extreme position, or its reverse extreme position according as the associated rockshaft is rotated to the extreme position in which it is shown in the drawings, its intermediate extreme position or the extreme position opposite to that in which it is shown in the drawings.

The motion plate 68 is driven by the slide bar ll through the medium of a bolt 12 (see Figs. 2, 3, 9 and 10) having a relatively large flat head, and having adjacent its head a rectangular shoulder l2 which fits into a rectangular slot 13 provided in one end of the motion plate. The parts are so proportioned that endwise movement of the motion plate relative to the slide bar is prevented, but that, a limited amount of lateral motion of the motion plate relative to the slide bar is permitted. The motion plate is maintained in the desired lateral position relative to the circuit controller by means of a depending rib 14 (see Fig. 6) formed on the underside of the bottom wall 35 of the compartment 33, which rib extends into a longitudinally extending groove 15 (see Figs. 6 and 9) provided in the upper side of the motion plate.

Under certain conditions which will be described hereinafter, it is desirable to turn the motion plate over so that the side of the motion plate which is the lower side in the drawings will then become the upper side, and in order to permit this to-be done, the lower side of the motion plate is provided with a longitudinally extending groove 16 (see Figs. 6 and 9) similar to the groove 15.

One advantage of fastening the motion plate to the slide bar in the manner just described is that while the slide bar may receive sudden thrusts from the operating rod 1 and lock rod L as high speed trains pass over the switch points, these thrusts will not be transmitted to the motion plate, and will not, therefore, affect the operation of the circuit controller in any way. Another advantage of securing the motion plate to the slide bar in the manner previously described, is that it is an easy matter to turn the slide bar over when it is desired to do so.

In order to facilitate adjustment of the parts and to compensate for wear, it is desirable to be able to readily vary the positions of the crank arms 82 and 62 relative to the associated rockshafts 63 and 63 and I therefore secure these arms to the rockshafts by adjustable means which I will now describe. Referring to Fig. 6, and particularly to the means for fastening the arms 62 to the rockshaft 53 this means, in the form here shown, comprises a tap bolt 18 having an unthreaded shank portion adjacent its head, and a threaded portion at the end opposite to its head. The threaded portion is screwed into a tapped hole 19 provided in the upper end of the rockshaft 63*, While the unthreaded shank portion extends downwardly with some clearance through an axial slot 89 provided in the end of the crank arm E52 opposite to that which is bifurcated. The means for fastening the crank arm 62 to the rockshaft 63 also comprises a stud bolt 8W having a threaded portion at each end and an eccentric unthreaded portion intermediate its ends. The threaded portion at one end of the bolt 8 I is screwed into a tapped hole 82 provided in the crank arm 64 while the eccentric portion of the bolt 8! is disposedin a hole 83 provided in the crank arm 62 A nut 84 is screwed onto the other threaded portion of the bolt 8%, and when tightened, prevents the bolt from turning. Interposed on the bolt l8 between the upper side of the crank arm I32 and the head of the bolt, and also on the bolt Bl between the upper side of the crank arm 62 and the nut 84*, is a flat plate 86 which serves to distribute the pressure exerted by the head of the bolt 18 and the nut 84.

With the above described construction, it will be seen that if the tap bolt 18 is first unscrewed a certain amount and the nut 84 is backed off the stud bolt Bi and the stud bolt is then rotated by inserting a screw driver in a saw kerf 85 provided in the upper end of this latter bolt, the position of the arm 62 relative to the rockshaft 63 may be varied an amount which depends upon the proportioning of the parts. After adjustment has been made in this manner, the tap bolt I8 and nut 8 will, of course, again be tightened to lock the arm in its new position.

The means for fastening the crank arm 62 to the rockshaft 63 is similar to the means described above for fastening the crank arm '52 to the rockshaft 63 and the corresponding parts are designated by the same reference characters with suitable distinguishing exponents. It is believed, therefore, that a detailed description of the means for fastening the crank arm 62 to the rockshaft 63 is unnecessary.

For the same reasons that it is desirable to be able to vary the positions of the crank arms 62 and 62 relative to the rockshafts 63 and 63 it is also desirable to be able to vary the positions of the rollers 65 and 65 relative to the associated crank arms 64 and 64 and for this purpose, I preferably make the portion 81 of each bolt 66 (see the bolt 66 shown in Fig. 12 which extends through the associated roller 65 eccentric to that portion 88 of the bolt which extends through the associated arm 64, and I provide the upper side of the portion 81 of each bolt 65 with an upstanding pin 89 which is adapted to enter any one of a plurality of spaced holes 99 (see Fig. 11) provided in the underside of the associated arm 64. With this construction, it will be seen that by backing off the nut 61 associated with either one of the bolts 66 far enough to permit the pin 89 on such bolt to be withdrawn from the hole 99 which it then occupies, turning such bolt to the angular position in which the pin 89 enters a selected new hole, and again tightening the associated nut 61, the desired adjustment between either roller and the associated crank arm may be quickly and conveniently made.

The circuit controller 0 also comprises point detector mechanism for controlling the rockshafts 63 and '63 in accordance with the positions of the switch points, independently of the control of these rockshafts by the slide bar I I. As here shown, this mechanism comprises two additional crank arms 92 and 92 (see Figs. 4 and 6) which are secured to the lower ends of the rockshafts 63" and 63", respectively, and which are provided at their outer ends with rollers 93 and 93 that cooperate with an annular recess 95 in a point detector rod D of the usual and wellknown type. The point detector rod D is slidably mounted in suitable guides provided in the base plate H1 at the opposite sides of the recess 31 and is adjustably secured in the usual manner to the normally closed point 2 of the switch A. The recess 95 is so designed, and the parts are so proportioned, that this recess will align with the roller 93 when and only when the switch point 2 is tight against the stock rail 1, and with the roller 93' when and only when the switch point 2 is tight against the stock rail l The parts are also so proportioned that the roller 93 will enter the recess 95 when and only when the roller 55 enters the recess a in the motion plate 68, and that the roller 93 will enter the recess 95 when and only when the roller 65 enters the recess b in the motion plate '68. The parts are further so proportioned that if either roller 93 or 93 is forced out of the recess 95 due to the movement of the point detector rod D, the associated rockshaft I53 or 63 will be rotated from the extreme position which it then occupies to its intermediate position.

The operation as a whole, of the portion of the circuit controller thus far described is as follows: As shown in the drawings, the slide bar I l occupies its extreme normal position, and the switch points 2 and 2 likewise occupy their extreme normal positions so that the switch point 2 is held tightly against the associated fixed rail l. Under these conditions, both recesses 13 and b in the motion plate 68 are, of course, out of alignr ment with the roller 65 on the crank arm 64' attached to rockshaft 63 and the roller 65 is therefore forced to ride up onto the outer edge of the motion plate so that the rockshaft 63 is rotated to its one extreme position, thus causing the contact drum 39 to be rotated to its normal extreme position. Furthermore, under these conditions, the recess a. in the motion plate 68 is in alignment with the roller 65 on the crank arm 64 attached to the rockshaft 63 and the recess 95 in the point detector rod D is in alignment with the roller 93 on the crank arm 92 attached to rockshaft G3, and the rockshaft 63 is therefore rotated by the spring 69 to the extreme position in which it is shown in the drawings, thus causing the contact drum 39 to be rotated to its normal extreme position. As was previously pointed out, when the contact drums 3!! and 38 occupy their normal extreme positions, contacts -4il 48 Mi AM, ll -42 and 48' -44 49 are all closed, while all of the remaining contacts are open.

I will now assume that with the parts in the positions just described, the slide bar I l is moved from its extreme normal position to its extreme reverse position to move the switch points from their normal position to their reverse position. During the first or unlocking part of this movement of the slide bar, no motion of the switch points takes place for the reasons pointed out hereinbefore, but during the initial part of the resultant movement of the motion plate 68, the roller 65 is forced out of recess a and into the recess 11 and at the same time, recess 1) moves into alignment with the roller 65 As a result, the rockshaft 63 is rotated in a positive manner from the position shown to its intermediate position, and the rockshaft 63 is simultaneously rotated, by virtue of the bias of the spring 69, from the position shown to its intermediate position. Ihe rotation of the rcckshafts B3 and '63 to their intermediate positions, of course, causes the contact drums 39 and 39 to rotate to their intermediate positions, and this latter rotation, in turn, causes contact iF -42-5ll to first become closed, then contacts l5--4i] --48 and -M to become simultaneously opened, then contact 48 44 -49 to become opened, and finally contacts AP-49 and 48 .3 -49 to become simultaneously closed, as has been pointed out hereinbefore. The rotation of the rockshaft 63 to its intermediate position also moves the roller 93 on the crank arm 92 out of the recess 95 in the point detector rod D, and it will be apparent, therefore, that during that portion of the movement of the slide bar which causes the shifting of the switch points, that is to say, during the intermediate part of the movement of the slide bar, both rollers 93 and 93 will be clear of the point detector rod, so that there is no actual engagement between the point detector rod and the rollers 93 and 93 under these conditions. After the intermediate part of the movement of the slide bar l i has been completed, and the final or looking part of the movement of the slide bar has been partly effected, recess a moves out of alignment with roller 65 and recess 12 simultaneously moves into alignment with roller When this happens, rockshaft I53 will, of course, be rotated in a positive manner from its intermediate position to the extreme position opposite to that in which it is shown in the drawings, thereby causing contact drum 39 to be rotated to its reverse extreme position. Furthermore, if when the recess b moves into alignment with the roller the point 2 is then tight against the fixed rail I so that the recess is then in alignment with the roller 93 as will be the case if the parts are in proper adjustment and the points have not been damaged, spring '59 will rotate rockshalt 63 from its intermediate position to the extreme position opposite to that in which it is shown in the drawings, thus rotating the contact drum 39 to its reverse extreme position. As the contact drums move from their intermediate positions to their reverse extreme positions, contacts ill lii lt and 48 --43 --49 first be come simultaneously opened, then contacts 45 -40 -48 and 46"-4l -49 become simultaneously closed, then contact dt l l -dll becomes closed, and finally contact 41 42 50 becomes opened, as described hereinbefore.

When the slide bar is in its extreme reverse position and the switch points are in their full reverse positions, if the slide bar is then restored to its extreme normal ,position to restore the switch points to their normal positions, the operation of the apparatus will be exactly the reverse of that just described, and it is believed, therefore, that this operation will be apparent from the foregoing and from an inspection of the drawings without further description.

I will now assume that the parts are in the positions in-which they are shown in the drawings, and that a train trails the switch. Under these conditions, while the train is trailing the switch, the switch points will be displaced a certain amount from their normal extreme positions by the wheels of the train, and this displacement will cause the point detector rod D to move upwardly as viewed in Figs. 1 and 4, an amount which depends upon the amount of displacement of the closed point, that is, the point 2. This upward movement of the point detector rod will cause the bevel face of the recess 95 in the point detector rod D to engage roller 93 and will thus rotate rockshaft 63 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4. This rotation of the rockshaft 63 in turn, will move roller 65 out of engagement with recess a in the motion plate 68, will cause spring 69 to become extended, and will also cause contact drum 39 to rotate from its normal extreme position toward its intermediate position, thereby causing contact 4'! *--42 50 to become closed, and contacts IN-48 and Mi AW to become opened, and if displacement of the closed point is sufficient to force the roller 93 completely out of the recess 55, contact Mil 35 419 will become closed. When the train has completely trailed the switch, the displacing force on the points will, of course, be removed, ancl the points will then tend to spring back to their normal positions. The movement of the points toward their normal positions will move the point detector rod D downwardly as viewed in Figs. 1 and 4, and if the amount of this movement is suiiicient to permit the roller 93 to fully reenter the recess 95, the spring 69 will restore the rockshaft 63 to the position in which it is shown in the drawings, thereby restoring the contact drum 39 to its normal extreme position. If, however, the points are so badly damaged that the downward movement of the point detector rod is insufficient to permit the roller 93 to fully enter the recess 95, or to enter it at all, the spring 59 will act to return the rockshaft and contact drum 39* to such a position as the position in which the roller 99 engages the point detector rod will permit.

I will next assume that the slide bar II has been moved to its extreme reverse position so that the switch points are in their full reverse positions, and that a train trails the switch. Under these conditions while the train is trailing the switch, the point detector rod D will be moved downwardly as viewed in Figs. 1 and 4, and this downward movement will cause the upper bevel face of the recess 95 to cooperate with the roller 93' in such manner that the rockshaft 63 will be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, thereby moving roller 65* out of engagement with recess b in motion plate 68, causing spring 69 to be extended, and causing contact drum 39 to be rotated from its reverse extreme position to its intermediate position. The rotation of the contact drum 39" under these conditions will first cause contact ll l2 5ll to become closed, then contacts 45 --4II ----48 and 46 4I -49- to become simultaneously opened, and if the amount of the displacement is suificiently great, contact 48'43 49 to become closed. After the train has completely trailed the switch, if the switch points then spring back toward their full normal positions far enough to permit the roller 93 to completely reenter recess 95, spring 69 will act to restore the contact drum 39 to its full reverse position, but if the points do not spring back toward their full reverse positions far enough to permit the roller 93' to fully enter the recess 95, or to enter it at all, the contact drum will be returned by the spring to such position as the position in which the roller 93 engages the detector rod permits.

In actual practice, the contacts 45 -4IJ l8 and IW-M -M are usually referred to as the normal indication contacts, the contacts 45'- lfi lfi and 49 4I 49 as the reverse indication contacts, the contact l8 l3 l9 as the normal shunting contact, the contact 48 -43 19 as the reverse shunting contact, the contact 41 -42 -59 as the normal restoring contact, and the contact l 42 50' as the reverse restoring contact. Furthermore, the contacts 48 --44 -49 and 48 44 49 are also referred to as shunting contacts, these latter contacts only being provided where the switch operating mechanism is to be used for controlling a switch at a crossover. The function of the various contacts will immediately be recognized from their names by those skilled in the art, and inasmuch as these contacts may be utilized in a variety of wellknown circuits none of which form any part of my present invention, it is deemed unnecessary to illustrate any of these circuits here.

Under some conditions, it is desirable to insure that when a train has trailed the switch, an

. member 96 (see Fig. 5) which is closed at its lower end by a cap 91, and which is screwed at its upper end into the lower end of a vertical hole 98 provided in the arm 55 A latching plunger 99 is mounted to slide within the hole 98 and tubular member 99, and is biased to an upper position by means of a compressed 'coil spring I99 which surrounds a portion 99? of reduced diameter formed on the lower end of the latching plunger. The upper end of the latching plunger is also formed with a portion 99 of reduced diameter which extends upwardly with some clearancethrough a hole IUI in a lug I92 formed on the crank arm t l The upper portion of the lug I92 is spaced some distance from the arm, and serves both as a guide for the latching plunger and as a means for preventing vertical displacement of a latch head I03 which cooperates with the latching plunger. The latch head I93 is adjustably secured to one end of a latch rod I04, and is formed with an axially extending open end slot I05 which receives the upper end 99 of the latching plunger with some clearance. The free end of the latch rod I 94 is pivotally attached to the arm 94 by means of a bolt I 99. The parts are so proportioned that when the upper end 99 of the latching plunger engages the latch head I93 at the inner end of the slot I95, as will normally be the case, the crank arms 64 and 64* will be held in the relative position in which there is a slight amount of clearance between the rollers 95 and 95 and the adjacent sides of the motion plate 68. One advantage of proportioning the parts in this manner is that wear caused by vibration of the motion plate resulting from high speed'trains moving over the switch is prevented. The latch head I93 is provided, in addition to the slot I95, with a concave surface Iil'I (see Figs. 13 and 14) which surface slopes downwardly and rearwardly from the slot I95 at the inner end of this slot, and which has a radius of curvature just a little larger than the radius of curvature of the outer surface of the body of the latching plunger 99. The slope of this concave surface is such that when the upper end portion 99 of the latching plunger 99 is engaging the slot I95 at the inner end of the slot, the under surface of the latch head adjacent the lower end of the concave surface I91 will overlie the upper surface of the main portion of the latching plunger a predetermined amount, and will thus hold the latching plunger in its lowermost position in which the upper surface of the main portion of the plunger is substantially flush with the top of the hole 99, but that, if the crank arms 94 and 94 are moved away from their normal relative positions to which they are biased by the spring 99, due for example, to a roller 93 on one of the crank arms 92 being forced at least partway out of the recess 95 in the point detector rod as a result of movement of the point detector rod caused by a train trailing the switch, the plunger will be permitted to rise to its upper position in which the body of the plunger will engage the latch head E93 adjacent the upper end of the concave surface lIl'I.

With the latching device E construct-ed in the manner just described, it will be apparent that during reversal of the switch points due to operation of the slide bar II, the latching device E will have no effect whatever on the circuit controller, and the circuit controller will function in the manner previously pointed out. When, however, a train trails the switch, if the resultant displacement of the switch points is sufiicient to cause one or the other of the rollers 95% and 93 to be forced partway out of the recess in the point detector rod due to engagement of such roller with one of the bevel faces of the recess 95, the consequent rotation of the crank 63 or the crank 63", as the case may be, will move the latching plunger and latch head to such relative positions that the under surface of the latch head will no longer overlie the upper surface of the main portion of the latching plunger 99, and when this happens, the spring I00 will then force the latching plunger upwardly, thereby causing further relative rotation of the rockshafts. After the latching plunger has once been moved to its upper position, it will subsequently remain in this position until it is manually restored to its lowermost position by pushing down on the top of the upper portion 99 of the latching plunger. The parts are so proportioned that when the plunger is in its upper position, if the slide bar then occupies its extreme normal position, the contact drum 39 will be held in the position in which the normal indication contacts are open even though the switch points substantially spring back to their full normal positions, and that if the slide bar is then in its reverse position, the contact drum 39 will be held in the position in which the reverse indication contacts are open even though the switch points subsequently spring back to their full reverse position.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a latching device embodying my invention has two essential characteristics. First, it causes the indication contacts of the circuit controller to function in accordance with the position of the point detector rod during the time the switch is actually being trailed, rather than after the train has completely trailed through the switch, and, second, it makes it necessary for a maintainer to go to a switch which has been trailed and manually release the latching device before either set of indication contacts can again become closed. It is assumed that when a maintainer goes to the switch to release the latching device, he will inspect the switch points, and if damaged, repair them, thus guarding against a. dangerous condition due to damaged switch points.

The purpose of the slope on concave surface I0'I of latch head I03 is to rotate the contact drum which is operating while the switch is being trailed a sufficient additional amount, after the latching device has tripped, so as to insure that the indication contacts controlled by such drum will be opened a sufiicient amount to take care .of any normal variations which are liable to occur due to slight variations in the dimensions of the parts during manufacture, or to any slight misadjustments of the parts which may occur in service.

It should be noted that if spring 09 should break or be of insufficient strength to overcome any binding or friction which might occur between the parts, a dangerous condition will not result because this spring only acts to rotate the contact drums to the positions in which the indication contacts are closed, the rotation of the contact drums in the opposite direction being caused by engagement of the rollers 65 and 05 with the motion plate 58, or by engagement of the rollers 93 and 93 with the beveled ends of the recess 95 in the point detector rod D.

For obvious reasons, it is desirable to be able to check the relation between the locking dogs I3 and 20 and the notches I9 and 20 in the lock rod L with which these dogs cooperate,

while the dogs are within the associated notches. In order to permit the relation between the dog I9 and the notch I9 to be checked when the dog I9 is in the notch I9, I provide two windows I08 and I09 (see Figs. 4 and 5) in the bottom wall 35 of the compartment 33 directly above the point where the lock rod L intersects the slide bar I I. These windows are normally closed to prevent dirt from entering the compartment 33 by means of a shutter H0 which is pivoted on a screw II I secured to the bottom wall 35 of the compartment 33. The shutter H0 may, however, when desired, be rotated to a position in which the windows I08 and I09 coincide with openings I08 and I09 formed in the shutter, by means of an upstanding lug HM formed on the shutter, which lug is disposed within an opening H2 provided in the insulating member 5i.

The relation between the notch 20 and the dog 20 when the dog 20 is within the notch 20 may be observed directly by looking under the casing 29 from the left-hand end of the casing. as viewed in Fig. 1.

The proper relation between the locking dog I9 and the associated notch If] in the lock rod L may be checked indirectly by noting the position of the end surface H3 of the long notch 20 in the lock rod (see Fig. 6) with respect to the outer end surface H4 of a lug H4 on the casing 29. That is to say, when the outer end surface H4 on the lug H4 is in vertical alignment with the surface H3, the lock rod is in proper adjustment for locking the switch in its normal extreme position.

Similarly, the proper relation between the notch 20 in the lock rod L and the dog 20 may be indirectly checked by noting that the end surface H5 of the long notch 19*- in look rod L aligns vertically with the outer end surface H'I of a lug II'I provided on the casing 29.

It should be pointed out that in order to remove the lock rod L from the switch operating mechanism for any reason, it is only necessary to remove two lock rod guides H8 and H9 (see Figs. 2, 3 and 5), which can be done merely by removing a bolt I20 which clamps these guides within suitable recesses formed in the base plate I0 and in the top plate I8.

An important feature of a switch operating mechanism embodying my invention is that by properly assembling the parts, the same parts may be used for either a left-hand or a righthand switch layout regardless of whether the point adjacent the mechanism is normally closed or normally open; and in addition, the same circuits and circuit connections may be used under all conditions of layout. For example, the layout shown in Fig. 1 is a left-hand layout with the switch point adjacent the switch operating mechanism normally closed. If, now, with this layout, it is desired to have the point adjacent the movement normally open instead of normally closed, and at the same time retain the same circuit connections to the circuit controller as would be used when the point adjacent the switch operating mechanism is normally closed, all that needs to b done is to disconnect the crank arms 62 and 62 from the rockshafts I33= and 63 respectively, and connect them with the rockshafts 63 and B3, respectively, as shown in Fig. 15. When this has been done, the operation of the apparatus will be similar to that previously described with the exception that any movement of the rockshaft G3 due either to'coopratiori of the roller 65 with the recesses a and a in the motion plate 68, or to cooperation of roller 93 with the recess 95 in the point detector rod D will operate the contact drum 39 instead of the contact drum 3%, and that any movement of the rockshaft 63 due either to cooperation of the roller 65 with the notches b and b in the motion plate 63, or to cooperation of the roller 93 with the recess 55 in the point detector rod will now operate the contact drum 39 instead of drum 39 For a right-hand layout, with the point adjacent the movement normally closed, the parts of the mechanism proper are assembled as shown in Fig. 16, and the parts of the circuit controller are assembled as shown in Fig. 15. From an inspection of Fig. 16, it will be apparent that as here shown, the slide bar H has been turned over so that the side which is the upper side in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, is now the lower side, the friction lock and alligator jaw IE have been disposed in positions reverse to those in which they are shown in Fig. 2, and the lock rod L extends from the side of the switch movement opposite to that in which it extends in Fig. 1. The assembly of the circuit controller as shown in Fig. 15, in so far as the relation of the arms 62 and 62* with respect to the rockshafts 63 and 83 is concerned, has been described hereinbefore, and need not therefore be repeated here. It will be noted, however, that in addition to the arms 552 and 62 being reversed from the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 4, the motion plate 68 has been turned upside down. The operation of the apparatus, as a whole, when assembled as shown in Figs. 15 and 16 is similar to that previously described, and will be readily understood from the foregoing without further detailed description.

If, with the layout shown in Fig. 16, it is desired to have the switch points adjacent the switch operating mechanism normally open instead of normally closed, the arms 62 and 62 of the circuit controller will then be secured to the rockshaits 63 and 63 respectively, as shown in Fig. i, and the motion plate 68 will be secured to the slide bar H in the manner shown in Fig. 15. The operation of the apparatus under these conditions is believed to be sufiiciently obvious from the foregoing so as not to require any further description.

Referring now to Fig. 1'7, I have here shown a movable point frog A arranged to be operated by a switch operating mechanism B which latter mechanism also embodies my invention. The frog layout A is of standard construction and comprises the usual stock rails between which are mounted two pairs of switch points, such pairs of switch points being disposed in opposite relation in accordance with the usual practice. The one pair of points is operated be tween its normal and reverse positions by an operating rod l and has attached thereto a lock rod L and a point detector rod D and the other pair of points is operated between its normal and reverse positions by an operating rod I and has attached thereto a lock rod L and a point detector rod D The switch operating mechanism B comprises two alligator jaws I25 and I25 the one jaw of which I25 is operatively connected with the operating rod 5 in the same manner that the alligator jaw Hi shownin Figs. 1, 2 and. 3, is op= eratively connected with the operating rod 1, and the other jaw of which I 25 is similarly operatively connected with the operating rod 1 The alligator jaws I25 and I25 cooperate with rollers |2l and I22, respectively, carried by the slide bar I26 of the mechanism in such manner that when either jaw is rotated in response to longitudinal movement of the slide bar, the other jaw will be simultaneously rotated in the same direction. It will be apparent, therefore, from an inspection of the drawings that the switch points will simultaneously move in opposite directions when the switch operating mechanism is actuated to reverse the points. The rollers which actuate the two alligator jaws are not shown clearly in the drawings because they are hidden by other parts of the mechanism, but these rollers are each similar to the roller 15 shown in Fig. 2, and are each attached to the slide bar I26 in the same manner that the roller [5 is attached to the slide bar H. The slide bar I26 in addition to being provided with rollers which actuate the alligator jaws I25 and I25 is provided with suitable locking dogs which cooperate with the lock rods L and L to lock both pairs of points in both extreme positions of the points in a wellknown manner. The lock rods are held in the proper positions relative to the slide bar by means of lock rod guides similar to. the lock rod guides H8 and H9 previously described. The point detector rods D and D are slidably mounted in suitable guideways provided in the base plate of the operating mechanism B and these point detector rods cooperate with the circuit controller of the mechanism in a manner which I will describe presently. The remaining parts of the switch operating mechanism B not specifically mentioned are similar in all respects to those shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and it is believed that the operation of this portion of the mechanism will be readily understood from the foregoing and from an inspection of the drawings without further description.

The circuit controller for the mechanism B is designated C and is similar to the previously described circuit controller C in so far as the means for detecting the positions of the points to which the point detector rod D is attached and the means for checking the position of the slide bar are concerned. However, in order to detect the position of the points to which the point detector rod D is attached additional means are necessary as shown in Figs. 19 and 20. Referring to Figs. 19 and 20, these aditional means comprise two rockshafts l3!) and Hill which are journalled on opposite sides of the slide bar I26 within suitable bearings formed in lugs i3i attached to one side wall of the compartment 34. The rockshaft 138 is provided at its lower end with a crank arm I32 and at its upper end, with a crank arm 133 while the rockshait i36 is provided at its lower end with a crank arm i32 and at its upper end with a crank arm 633 The crank arm I32 carries a roller I3; which is adapted to enter the recess 95 in the point detector rod D when and only when the pair of points to which the rod D is attached occupy the positions in which they are shown in the drawings, and the crank arm I32 similarly carries a roller I34 which is adapted to enter the recess 95 in the point detector rod D when and only when the switch points occupy the positions opposite to those in which they are shown in the drawings. The crank arm I33 is pivotally connected at its free end to one end of an adjustable link I35 the other end of which is pivotally connected with the crank arm 62 by means of the eccentric stud 8|. Crank arm I33 is likewise pivotally connected at its free end to one end of an adjustable link l35' the other end of which is pivotally connected with the crank arm 62 by means of the eccentric stud 8|. The parts are so proportioned that when the switch points are in their normal positions, the roller I3 1 will be prevented from entering the recess in the point detector rod D unless the recess 95 in the point detector rod D is then in such a position that the roller 93 can simultaneously enter this latter recess, and vice versa, and that when the switch points are in their reverse positions, the roller I34 will be prevented from entering the recess 95 in the point detector rod D unless the point detector rod D then occupies the position in which the recess 95 in this detector rod aligns with the roller 93 and vice versa. The parts are furtherso proportioned that movement of the rockshaft I30 caused by a given displacement of the switch points with which the point detector rod D is connected, from their normal extreme positions, will rotate the rockshaft 63 in the same direction and the same amount as this latter rockshait would. be rotated by a corresponding displacement from their normal positions of the switch points with which the point detector rod D is connected, and that when the switch points are in their reverse positions, any rotation of the rockshaft l3!) caused by displacement of the switch points with which the point detector rod D is connected will cause the rockshaft G3 to be rotated in the same direction and the same amount as this latter rockshaft would be rotated due to a corresponding displacement of the switch points with which the point detector rod D is connected. It will be apparent, therefore, that with the circuit controller constructed in the manner just described corresponding displacements of either pair of switch points from their normal positions when they are locked in these positions will operate the contact drum 39 to give an indication of such displacement and that displacement of either pair of points from their reverse positions when the points are locked in these positions will operate the contact drum 39' to give an indication of this displacement.

One advantage of switch operating apparatus embodying my invention is that a minimum number of parts are required, all of which can be easily and cheaply manufactured.

Another advantage of switch operating apparatus embodying my invention is that the same parts may be used for all conditions of layout by properly rearranging the parts.

Still another advantage of switch operating apparatus embodying my invention is that all parts are readily accessible, thus greatly facilitating inspection and maintenance of the mechanism.

Although I have herein shown and described only a few forms of railway switch operating apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a railway switch, a slide bar movable longitudinally between two extreme positions and operatively connected with the switch in such manner that movement of said slide bar between its two extreme positions will move the switch between its two extreme positions, a rocksha'ft, an arm secured to said rockshaft and provided with a roller, a motion plate secured to said slide bar and provided with a first recess which is adapted to receive said roller and which aligns with said roller when and only when said slide bar occupies one extreme position and with a second recess which is also adapted to receive said roller and which aligns with said roller when said slide bar occupies any position intermediate its two extreme positions, the parts being so proportioned that said rockshaft will be rotated to one extreme position when said roller enters said first recess, to an interi'nediate position when said roller enters said second recess, and to another extreme position when said roller is forced out of both recesses, a spring operatively connected with said rockshait for biasing said rockshaft in the direction to cause said roller to enter said recesses, and a circuit controlling element controlled in accord ance with the position of said rockshaft.

2. In combination, a railway switch, a slide bar movable longitudinally between two extreme positions and operatively connected with the switch in such manner that movement of said slide bar between its two extreme positions will move the switch between its two extreme positions, a rockshaft, an arm secured to said rockshaft and provided with a roller, a motion plate secured to said slide bar and provided with a first recess which is adapted to receive said roller and which aligns with said roller when and only when said slide bar occupies one extreme position and with a second recess which is also adapted to receive said roller and which aligns with said roller when said slide bar occupies any position intermediate its two extreme positions, the parts being so proportioned that said rockshaft will be rotated to one extreme position when said roller enters said first recess, to an intermediate position when said roller enters said second recess, and to another extreme position when said roller is forced out of both recesses, a spring operatively connected with said rockshaft for biasing said rockshaft in the direction to cause said roller to enter said recesses, and a plurality of contacts selectively operated in accordance with the position of said rockshaft.

3. In railway switch operating apparatus, in combination, a slide bar movable between two err-- treme positions and operatively connected with the switch in such manner that movement of said slide bar between its two extreme positions w ll move the switch between its two extreme positions, a rockshaft, an arm secured to said rockshaft and provided with a roller, a motion plate operatively connected with said slide bar and pro vided with two recesses one of which aligns with said roller when and only when said bar occupies one extreme position and the other of which aligns with said roller at all times except when said slide bar occupies either of its two ozotreme positions, means for biasing said rockshafi; in the direction to cause said roller to enter said recesses, and a circuit controlling member operatively connected with said rockshaft, the parts being so proportioned that said circuit control-- ling member will be rotated to one extreme tion, to an intermediate position, or to another ill extreme position according as said roller enters said one recess, said other recess, or is forced out of both recesses.

4. In railway switch operating apparatus, in combination, a slide bar movable longitudinally between two extreme positions and operatively connected with the switch in such manner that movement of said slide bar from either extreme position to the other extreme position first unlocks the switch points, then reverses them, and finally relocks the switch points in their reverse positions, a rockshaft, an arm secured to said rockshaft and provided with a roller, a motion plate operatively connected with said slide bar and provided with two recesses one of which aligns with said roller when and only when said slide bar occupies one extreme position and the other of which aligns with said roller at all times except when said slide bar occupies either of its extreme positions, means for biasing said rockshaft to a position in which said roller will enter said recesses when said recesses are in alignment with said roller, and a circuit controlling member operatively connected with said rockshaft, the parts being so proportioned that said circuit controlling member will be rotated to one extreme position, to an intermediate position, or to another extreme position according as said roller enters said one recess, said other recess, or is forced out of both recesses.

5. In combination, a railway switch, a slide bar movable longitudinally between two extreme positions and operatively connected with theswitch in such manner that movement of said slide bar between its two extreme positions will move the switch between its two extreme positions, a rockshaft, a first arm secured to said rockshaft and provided with a first roller, a motion plate secured to said slide bar and provided with a first recess which aligns with said first roller when and only when said slide bar occupies one extreme position and with a second recess which aligns with said first roller at all times except when said slide bar occupies either of its two extreme positions, a spring operatively connected with said rockshaft for biasing said rockshaft to a position in which said first roller will enter said recesses when said recesses are in alignment with said first roller, the parts being so proportioned that said rockshaft will be rotated to one extreme position when said first roller enters said first recess, to an intermediate position when said roller enters said second recess, and to another extreme position when said roller is forced out of both recesses, a second arm secured to said rockshaft and provided with a second roller, a point detector rod secured to the switch points and pro Vided with a third recess which aligns with said second roller only when the switch is in the extreme position corresponding to the extreme position of the slide bar in which said first recess aligns with said first roller, the parts being further so proportioned that said second roller will enter said third recess when and only when said first roller enters said first recess, and a circuit controlling element controlled in accordance with the position of said rockshaft.

6. In combination. a railway switch, a slide bar movable longitudinally between two extreme positions and operatively connected with the switch in such manner that movement of said slide bar between its two extreme positions will move the switch between its two extreme positions, a rockshaft, 9. first arm secured to said rocksha'ft and provided with a first roller, a motion plate secured to said slide bar and provided with a first recess which aligns with said first roller when and only when said slide bar occupies one extreme position and with a second recess which aligns with said first roller at all times except when said slide bar occupies either of its two extreme positions, a spring operatively connected with said rockshaft for biasing said rockshaft in the direction to cause said first roller to enter said recesses, the parts being so proportioned that said rockshaft will be rotated to one extreme position when said first roller enters said first recess, to an intermediate position when said roller enters said second recess, and to another extreme position when said roller is forced out of both recesses, a second arm. secured to said rockshaft and provided with a second roller, a point detector rod secured to the switch points and provided with a third recess which aligns with said second roller only when the switch is in the extreme position corresponding to the extreme position of the slide bar in which said first recess aligns with said first roller, the parts being further so proportioned that said second roller will enter said third recess when and only when said first roller enters said first recess, and a plurality of contacts selectively controlled in accordance with the position of said 'ockshaft.

7. In combination, a railway switch, a. slide bar movable longitudinally between two extreme positions and operatively connected with the switch in such manner that movement of said slide bar between its two extreme positions will move the switch between its two extreme positions, a rockshaft, a first arm secured to said rockshaft and provided with a first roller, a motion plate secured to said slide bar and provided with a first recess which aligns with said first roller when and only when said slide bar occupies one extreme position and with a second recess which aligns with said first roller at all times except when said slide bar occupies either of its two extreme positions, a spring operatively connected with said rockshaft for biasing said rockshaft in the direction to cause said roller to enter said recesses, the parts being so proportioned that said rockshaft will be rotated to one extreme position when said first roller enters said first recess, to an intermediate position when said roller enters said second recess, and to another extreme position when said roller is forced out of both recesses, a second arm secured to said rockshaft and provided with a second roller, a point'detector rod secured to the switch points and provided with a third recess which aligns with said second roller only when the switch is in the extreme position corresponding to the extreme position of the slide bar in which said first recess aligns with said first roller, the parts being further so proportioned that said second roller will enter said third recess when and oniy when said first roller enters said first recess, a third arm secured to said rockshaft, a rack bar operatively connected with said third arm in such manner that rotation of said roclrshaft between its two extreme positions will cause reciprocation of said rack bar between two extreme positions, said rack bar being provided with rack teeth, a rotatable contact drum provided with a gear wheel meshing with said rack teeth, and a plurality of contacts selectively controlled by said contact drum in accordancewith the position of the contact drum.

8. In combination, a railway switch, a slide bar movable longitudinally between two extreme po- Ill) sitions and operatively connected with the switch in such manner that movement of said slide bar between its two extreme positions will move the switch between its two extreme positions, a rockshaft, a first crank arm secured to said rockshaft and provided with a first roller, a motion plate secured to said slide bar and provided with a first recess which aligns with said first roller when and only when said slide bar occupies one extreme position and with a second recess which aligns with said first roller at all times except when said slide bar occupies either of its two ex treme positions, a spring operatively connected with said rockshalt for biasing said rockshaft in the direction to cause said first roller to enter said recesses, the parts being so proportioned that said rockshaft will be rotated to one extreme position when said first roller enters said first recess, to an intermediate position when said roller enters said second 1"CESS, and to another extreme position when said roller is forced out of both recesses, a second arm secured to said rockshaft and provided with a second roller, a point detector rod secured to the switch points and provided with a third recess which aligns with said second roller only when the switch is in the extreme position corresponding to the extreme position of the slide bar in which said first recess aligns with said first roller, the parts being further so proportioned that said second roller will enter said third recess when and only when said first roller enters said first recess, a third arm secured to said rockshaft, a rack bar operatively connected with said third arm in such manner that rotation of said rockshaft between its two extreme positions will cause reciprocation of said rack bar between two extreme positions, said rack bar being provided with rack teeth, a rotatable contact drum provided with a gear wheel meshing. with said rack teeth, a

plurality of contacts selectively controlled by said contact drum in accordance with the position of the contact drum, means for adjusting the position of said first roller relative to said first arm, and other means for adjusting the position of said third arm relative to said rockshaft.

9. In combination, a railway switch, a slide bar movable longitudinally between two extreme positions and operatively connected with the switch in such manner that movement of said slide bar between its two extreme positions will move the switch between its two extreme positions, a. rockshaft, a first arm secured to said rockshaft and provided with a first roller, a motion plate secured to said slide bar and provided with a first recess which aligns with said first roller when and only when said slide bar occupies one extreme position and with a second recess which aligns with said first roller at all times except when said slide bar occupies either of its two extreme positions, a spring operatively connected with said rockshaft for biasing said rockshaft in the direction to cause said first roller to enter said recesses, the parts being so proportioned that said rockshaft will be rotated to one extreme position when said first roller enters said first recess, to an intermediate position when said roller enters said second recess, and to another extreme position when said roller is forced out of both recesses, a second arm secured to said rockshaft and provided with a second roller, a point detector rod secured to the switch points and provided with a third recess which aligns with said second roller only when the switch is in the extreme position corresponding to the extreme position of the slide bar in which said first recess aligns with said first roller, the parts being further so proportioned that said second roller will enter said third recess when and only when said first roller enters said first recess, a circuit controlling element controlled in accordance with the position of said rockshaft, and means effective if said second roller is forced out of said third recess due to movement of said point detector rod for latching said rockshaft in its intermediate position until said rockshaft is subsequently manually released.

10. The combination with a railway switch and a slide bar movable longitudinally between two extreme positions and operatively connected with the switch for moving the switch between its two extreme positions, of a circuit controller comprising two rockshafts each provided with an arm carrying a roller, a spring connected between said arms for biasing each of said arms to one position, two rotatable contact drums one operatively connected with each rockshaft, and a motion plate secured to said slide bar and cooperating with both said rollers for actuating said rockshafts to actuate said contact drums in accordance with the positions of said slide bar.

11. The combination with a railway switch and a slide bar movable longitudinally between two extreme positions and operatively connected with the switch for moving the switch between its two extreme positions, of a circuit controller comprising two rockshafts each provided with an arm carrying a roller, a spring connected between said arms for biasing each of said arms to one position, two rotatable contact drums one operatively connected with each rockshaft, and a motion plate secured to said slide bar and provided in its opposite edges with recesses which cooperate with said rollers.

12. The combination with a railway switch and a slide bar movable longitudinally between two extreme positions and operatively connected with the switch for moving the switch between its two extreme positions, of a circuit controller comprising a first and a second rockshaft journaled on opposite sides of said slide bar, a first arm secured to said first rockshaft and provided with a first roller, a second arm secured to said second rockshaft and provided with a second roller, a motion plate secured to said slide bar and dis posed between said rollers, said motion plate being provided in its one edge with a first recess which aligns with said first roller when and only when said slide bar occupies one extreme position and with a second recess which aligns with said first roller at all times except when said slide bar occupies either of its two extreme positions and which is approximately one half as deep as said first recess, said motion plate also being provided in its other edge with a third recess which aligns with said second roller when and only when said slide bar occupies the other extreme position and with a fourth recess which aligns with said second roller at all times except when said slide bar occupies either of its two extreme positions and which is approximately half as deep as said third recess, the parts being so proportioned that movement of said rockshafts due to cooperation of said rollers with said recesses will always be equal and opposite, and two circuit controlling elements one controlled by each rockshaft.

13. In railway switch operating apparatus of the type in which a railway switch is moved between normal and reverse positions in response to longitudinal movements of a slide bar between corresponding extreme positions, the combination with a motion plate which is intended to be attached to said slide bar to be actuated thereby and which actuates circuit controlling means through the medium of a specially shaped edge producing a lateral thrust on a spring biased member in response to longitudinal movements of the motion plate, of means for securing said motion plate to said slide bar in such manner that said motion plate is constrained to move 1ongitudinally in response to longitudinal movements of said slide bar but is permitted to move laterally a limited amount relative to said slide bar, and fixed means cooperating with said motion plate for preventing lateral movement of said mo tion plate due to lateral movements of said slide bar.

14. In railway switch operating apparatus of the type in which a railway switch is moved between normal and reverse positions in response to longitudinal movements of a slide bar between two extreme positions, the combination with a motion plate which is adapted to be carried on top of, and driven by, said slide bar, and which is arranged to actuate circuit controlling means through the medium of recesses formed in at least one edgc'oi said motion plate, of means for securing said motion plate to said slide bar in such manner that said motion plate is constrained to move longitudinally in response to longitudinal movements of said slide bar but is permitted to move laterally a limited amount relative to said slide bar, and fixed means cooperating with said motion plate for preventing lateral movement of said motion plate.

15. In combination, a slide bar movable longi tudinally between two extreme positions and adapted to be operatively connected with a rail way switch for moving the switch between its two extreme positions, a motion plate secured to said slide bar in such manner that said motion plate is constrained to move longitudinally in response to longitudinal movements of said slide bar but that said motion plate is free to move laterally with respect to said slide bar a limited amount, said motion plate being provided with a longitudinally extending groove in its upper face and with a recess in one side edge, circuit controlling means biased into engagement with said one side edge of said motion plate and arranged to cooperate with said recess, and a fixed tongue extending into said groove and cooperating therewith to hold said motion plate in a fixed lateral position, whereby lateral movements of said slide bar will not be transmitted to said circuit controlling means.

16. In combination, a slide bar movable longitudinally between two extreme positions and operatively connected with a railway switch for moving the switch between its two extreme positions, a motion plate secured to said slide bar in such manner that said motion plate is constrained to move longitudinally in response to longitudinal. movements of said slide bar but that a limited amount of lateral motion between said motion piate and said slide bar is permitted, said slide bar being provided in one of its edges with a recess, a roller biased into engagement with said one edge of said motion plate and cooperating with said recess, circuit controlling means controlled by said roller, and means for holding said motion plate in a fixed lateral position while permitting longitudinal movements of the motion plate, whereby thrusts transmitted to said slide bar due to trains moving over said switch will not be transmitted to said circuit controlling means.

17. In combination, a slide bar movable longi tudinally between two extreme positions and operatively connected with a railway switch for moving the switch between its two extreme positions, a motion plate mounted on top of said slide bar and provided adjacent one end with a rectangular slot extending transversely of said motion plate, a bolt secured to said slide bar and provided with a head which is wider than said slot and with a rectangular portion adjacent said head which extends through said slot and cooperates with said slot in such manner that said motion plate is constrained to move longi tudinally in response to longitudinal movements of said slide bar but that said motion plate is permitted to move laterally a limited amount relative to said slide bar, fixed means cooperating with said motion plate for preventing lateral movement of said motion plate while permitting free longitudinal movement of said motion plate, and circuit controlling means cooperating with said motion plate at its edges and arranged to be moved toward and away from said motion plate in response to longitudinal movement of said motion plate.

18. In railway switch operating apparatus of the type in which a railway switch is moved between normal and reverse positions in response to longitudinal movements of a slide bar between two extreme positions, the combination with a motion plate which is intended to be attached to said slide bar with one face up for one condition of operation of the apparatus and with the opposite face up for another condition of operation of the apparatus and which is provided with an axially extending longitudinal groove in each face and with a transversely disposed rectangular slot adjacent one end and with similar oppositely disposed recesses in its opposite side edges for cooperation with spring biased circuit controller actuating members, of means for securing said motion plate to said slide bar with either face up comprising a bolt fastened to said slide bar and provided with a head which is wider than said slot and with a rectangular portion adjacent said head which extends through said slot and which cooperates with said slot in such manner that said motion plate is constrained to move longitudinally in response to longitudinal movements of said slide bar but is permitted to move laterally relative to said slide bar a limited amount, and a fixed tongue extending into and cooperating with the groove in which ever face of the motion plate is up to prevent said motion plate from moving laterally in response to lateral movement of said slide bar.

19. In railway switch operating apparatus of the type in which a railway switch is moved between normal and reverse positions in response to longitudinal movements of a slide bar between corresponding extreme positions, in combination, a first and a second rockshaft journaled on opposite sides of said slide bar, a first crank arin secured to said first rockshaft and extending substantially parallel to said slide bar and provided with a first roller, a second crank arm secured to said second rockshaf't and extending substantially parallel to said slide bar opposite said first crank arm and provided with a second roller, a spring connected between said first and second crank arms and acting to bias said arms toward each other, a motion plate secured to said slide bar and disposed between said first and second rollers and provided in one edge with a first and second recess and in the other edge with a third and fourth recess, said first and second recess being so disposed that said first recess will align with said first roller when and only when said slide bar occupies the extreme position corresponding to the normal extreme position of the switch and that said second recess will align with said first roller at all times except when said slide bar occupies one or the other of its two extreme positions, and said third and fourth recesses being so disposed that said third recess will align with said second roller when and only when said slide bar occupies the extreme position corresponding to the reverse extreme position of the switch and that said fourth recess will align with said second roller at all times except when said slide bar occupies one or the other of its two extreme positions, the parts being so proportioned that said first rockshaft will be rotated to one extreme position when said first roller enters said first recess, to an intermediate position when said first roller en ters said second recess, and to another extreme position when said first roller is forced out of both said first and second recesses, and that said second rockshaft will be rotated to one extreme position when said first roller enters said third recess, to an intermediate position when said second roller enters said fourth recess, and to another extreme position when said second roller is forced out of both said third and fourth recesses, two rotatable contact drums, and means for operatively connecting said two contact drums with said first and second rockshafts respectively or with said second and first rockshafts respectively.

20. In railway switch operating apparatus of the type in which a railway switch is moved between normal and reverse positions in response to longitudinal movements of a slide bar between corresponding extreme positions, in combination, a first and a second rockshaft journaled on opposite sides of said slide bar, a first crank arm secured to said first rockshaft and extending substantially parallel to said slide bar and provided with a first roller, a second crank arm secured to said second rockshaft and extending substantially parallel to said slide bar opposite said first crank arm and provided with a sec ond roller, a spring connected between said first and second crank arms and acting to bias said arms toward each other, a motion plate secured to said slide bar and disposed between said first and second rollers and provided in. one edge with a first and second recess and in the other edge with a third and fourth recess, said first and second recess being so disposed that said first recess will align with said first roller when and only when said slide bar occupies the extreme position corresponding to the normal extreme position of the switch and that said second recess will align with said first roller at all times except when said slide bar occupies one or the other of its two extreme positions, and said third and fourth recesses being so disposed that said third recess will align with said second roller when and only when said slide bar occupies the extreme position corresponding to the reverse extreme position of the switch and that said fourth recess will align with said sec ond roller at all times except when said slide bar occupies one or the other of its two extreme pcsitlons, the parts being so proportioned that said first rockshaft will be rotated to one extreme position when said first roller enters said first recess, to an intermediate position when said first roller enters said second recess, and to another extreme position when said first roller is forced out of both said first and second recesses, and that said second rockshaft will be rotated to one extreme position when said first roller enters said third recess, to an intermediate position when said second roller enters said fourth recess, and to another extreme position when said second roller is forced out of both said third and fourth recesses, a third crank arm secured to said first rockshaft and provided with a third roller, a fourth crank arm secured to said sec ond rockshaft and provided with a fourth roller, a point detector rod secured to the switch points and provided with a fifth recess which aligns with said third roller when and only when the switch points occupy their extreme normal positions and which aligns with said fourth roller when and only when the switch points occupy their extreme reverse positions, said third and fourth arms and said fifth recess being so design-ed that movement of said third roller into and out of said fifth recess will rotate said first roclrshaft between its one extreme position and its intermediate position and that movement of said fourth roller into and out of said fifth recess will rotate said second rockshaft between its one extreme position and its intermediate positween normal and reverse positions in response to longitudinal movements of a slide bar between corresponding extreme positions, in combination, a first and a second rockshaft journaled on opposite sides of said slide bar, a first crank arm secured to said first rockshaft and extending sub stantially parallel to said slide bar and provided with a first roller, a second crank arm secured to said second rockshaft and extending substantially parallel to said slide bar opposite said fast crank arm and provided with a second roller, a spring connected between said first and second crank arms and acting to bias said arms toward each other, a motion plate secured to said slide bar and disposed between said first and second rollers and provided in one edge with a first and second recess and in the other edge with third and fourth recess, said first and second recess being so disposed that said first recess will, align with said first roller when and only when said slide bar occupies the extreme position corr spending to the normal extreme position of the switch and that said second recess will align with said first roller at all times except when said slide bar occupies one or the other of its two extreme positions, and said third and fourth. recesses being so disposed that said third recess will align with said second roller when and only when said slide bar occupies the extreme position corresponding to the reverse extreme position of the switch and that said fourth recess will align with said second roller at all times except when said slide bar occupies one or the other of its two extreme positions, the parts being so proportioned that said first roclrshaft will be rotated to one exti ne position when said first roller enters said first to an intermediate position when said first roller enters said second recess, and to another extreme position when said first roller is forced out oi both said first and second recesses, and that said second rockshaft will be rotated to one ex- 

